give it all up
Carl Geisik cgeisik@lanl.gov
Fri, 18 Dec 1998 08:05:16 -0700 (00914015116, 3.0.32.19981218080515.008fa100@dxmail.lanl.gov)
Greetings,
I am currently debating a coworker. He is a typical ala carte Christian. My claim to him is that, as part of salvation, he must give up all he has. Everything. No holds barred. He claims that this is unnecessary. I have attached my latest chapter and verse in support of my side.
Is there anything that I missed?
Carl Geisik
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>Jerry,
>
>A few verses to get you started:
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>"...none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up everything he has" (Luke 14:33);
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>"If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor and you will have riches in heaven" (Matt. 19:21);
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>"Sell your possessions and give alms" (Luke 12:33);
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>"But give what is in your cups and plates to the poor, and everything will be clean for you" (Luke 11:41);
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>"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,.... But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.... for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:19-21);
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>"How hardly shall they that have riches enter to the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:23);
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>"Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matt. 19:23-24);
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>"Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me" (Luke 18:22, Mark 10:21),
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>Paul said, "For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:8 RSV)
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>And an account of the consequences:
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>Acts 5:1....
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>Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
>2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
>3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
>4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
>5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
>6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
>7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
>8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."
>9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
>10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
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>Carl